FREE -- Syria Weekly: November 25-December 2, 2025
Deadly Israeli raid draws US & international censure; liberation celebrations begin; Syrian-British Business Council launches; UCC power plant construction begins; more US-Syria D-ISIS raids; & more.
SYRIA’S TRANSITION:
Transition Meetings:
November 25:
President Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted a visit by U.S. Republican congressman Darin LaHood in Damascus on November 25.
President al-Sharaa’s wife Latifa al-Droubi met with Sheikha Moza bin Nasser, the Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Foundation in Doha on November 25, on the sidelines of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE).
Later that day, First Lady Latifa al-Droubi met with Qatari Minister of Education Lolwa bin Rashid al-Khater.
Governor of Aleppo Azzam al-Gharib hosted a visit by French Charge d’Affairs Jean-Baptiste Faivre on November 25.
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabawat hosted a meeting with a delegation from the UAE-based Abdullah al-Ghurayr Foundation on November 25 to discuss proposals for new humanitarian and development programming.
A delegation from the Ministry of Economy and Industry, led by Bassel Abdul Hanan, traveled to Saudi Arabia and met with the Saudi Ministry of Industry’s Industrial Development Center on November 25.
An MOI delegation, led by Major General Abdulkader Tahhan traveled to Marrakesh, Morocco to participate in the 93rdInterpol General Assembly on November 25, during which they met with Interpol President Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi.
Latakia Governor Mohammed Othman hosted two separate meetings on November 25 – one with the Latakia Lawyers’ Syndicate (to discuss joint cooperation in supporting institutional processes throughout the governorate) and another with a delegation from the Syrian American Medical Society (to discuss ongoing and proposed health programming).
Deputy Minister of Emergency and Disaster Response Ahmed Qaziz traveled to Barcelona, Spain to participate in an EU and Mediterranean workshop on “Preparedness and Response to Forest Fires in Mediterranean Countries” on November 25.
Governor to Suwayda Mustafa Bakkour hosted a meeting with a representative from the Bahar NGO on November 25 to discuss joint coordination of aid supplies to those in need.
November 26:
Minister of Information Hamza al-Mustafa traveled to Cairo, Egypt to participate in the 55th Session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Information on November 26, during which he was elected to assume the council’s presidency. The session also saw Damascus elected to be the Capital of Arab Media in 2028.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Bassel Abdul Hannan met with his Saudi counterpart Khalil Ibrahim Salama in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 26, on the sidelines of the 21st Global Industrial Summit.
Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Ways hosted a meeting with the head of Amnesty International, Agnes Callemard, in Damascus on November 26, to discuss proposals to cooperate in human rights cooperation.
French Charge d’Affairs Jean-Baptiste Faivre visited the Aleppo Industrial City on November 26 to assess ongoing industrial challenges, factory revitalization programming, and prospects for new international cooperation.
Minister of Agriculture Amjad Badr hosted a visit by a delegation from Mercy Corps to discuss water resource management in Syria.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab traveled to Homs city on November 26 alongside Hassan Soufan, a member of the Higher Committee for Civil Peace, to meet with Governor Abdulrahman al-Aama, his internal security chief Brigadier General Murhaf al-Nassan, and inspect the site of the recent killing of a Sunni couple in the village of Zaidal.
Later that day, Interior Minister Khattab traveled to Tartus, where he met with Governor Ahmed al-Shami, his internal security chief Brigadier General Abdel Aal Abdel Aal and Higher Committee for Civil Peace member Hassan Soufan.
Minister of Defense Murhaf Abu Qasra hosted a meeting with EU Charge d’Affairs Michael Ohnmacht in Damascus on November 26.
With the support of the Saudi King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the Syrian Civil Defense and Rif Dimashq governor’s office launched a major new project to remove rubble from throughout the destroyed suburbs of Darayya and Douma on November 26.
Governor of Deir ez Zour Ghassan al-Sayyed Ahmed hosted a meeting with the management of the al-Bukamal crossing on November 26 to discuss plans for the crossing’s strategic expansion in coordination with the General Authority for Ports and Customs.
November 27:
President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a public speech on the evening of November 27 celebrating the 1yr anniversary of the launch of Operation Deter Aggression, which ended up overthrowing Bashar al-Assad’s regime. President al-Sharaa called for nationwide protests.
Governor of Latakia Mohammed Othman convened a large gathering and dialogue meeting on November 27 with leaders and representatives from all of Latakia’s local and district councils in order to discuss the state of services and other social issues. During the gathering, Governor Othman received a phone call from President al-Sharaa, who addressed the audience and said he acknowledged demands recently made by protesters in Latakia and declared that the governorate held a vital role in “safeguarding civil peace and working hand in hand with state institutions.” Speaking to the issue of federalism, Sharaa said that “even in federal states, sovereign institutions remain strongly centralized… Syria’s geography is inter-dependent and the Coast cannot have isolated authorities… federalism simply resembles local administration and existing Syrian laws with minor changes.”
Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa met with Libyan Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs Walid al-Lafi on November 27 to discuss cooperation in the media space, including in countering disinformation. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 55th Session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Information in Cairo, Egypt.
Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Ways hosted a meeting with a delegation from the UN Working Group on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict to discuss the importance of sustaining rule of law responses to “survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, the necessity of implementing transitional justice, and approaches that support survivors and provide them with the necessary assistance.”
The Director General of the General Company for Cement and Building Materials (Omran), Mahmoud Fadila, hosted a meeting with a delegation Chinese building materials company BITEC in Damascus on November 27 to discuss potential technical, commercial, and investment support for Syria’s reconstruction efforts.
Local authorities in Rankous in Rif Dimashq gathered late on November 27 to fundraise to support rehabilitation and reconstruction work in their area, successfully raising more than $1 million.
Governor to Suwayda Mustafa Bakkour hosted three consecutive meetings with delegations from the WFP, UNICEF and the Saudi aid organization Takful al-Sham on November 27 to discuss enhancing coordination in aid delivery in Suwayda.
November 28:
Hundreds of thousands of citizens gathered across the country on November 28 to celebrate the 1yr anniversary of the launch of Operation Deter Aggression, which ultimately resulted in the fall of Assad’s regime.
Aleppo:
Damascus:
Latakia:
Tartus:
Hama:
Homs:
Deir ez Zour:
Rif Dimashq:
Daraa:
Quneitra:
November 28 (cont’d):
A delegation from the Foreign Ministry participated in the 10th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean – under the title Together for a Stronger Euro-Mediterranean Partnership – in Barcelona, Spain on November 28.
A delegation from Latakia and Tartus’ Internal Trade and Consumer Protection directorates traveled to Greece on November 28 to participate in the 14th Arab-Hellenic Economic Forum.
Authorities in Latakia – including Governor Mohammed Othman, Chief of Internal Security Colonel Abdulaziz al-Ahmad, and the Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church Athanasius Fadhl, and the Director of Political Affairs Raafat Jilo – gathered in Latakia city late on November 28 to celebrate the lighting of the city’s Christmas Tree at Mar Michael Church.
Minister of Administrative Development Mohammed al-Skaf traveled to Cairo, Egypt on November 28 to meet with the Arab League’s Arab Administrative Development Organization.
Authorities in the town of Binnish in Idlib gathered late on November 28 for a fundraiser to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the town. By the end of the night, more than $4 million had been raised.
Residents of the Christian village of Ghassaniya in Idlib celebrated their first public mass on November 28, led by Father Khokaz Mesroub.
November 29:
President Ahmed al-Sharaa traveled to Aleppo on November 29 and met with civil and military leaders, alongside Interior Minister Anas Khattab and Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib.
Later that day, President al-Sharaa gave a speech at the Aleppo Citadel to celebrate the city’s liberation from Assad’s regime one year earlier. During his speech, President al-Sharaa said that “in moments like these, Aleppo was reborn, and with it, Syria as a whole. A new chapter in our history was written, as Aleppo became the gateway to the entire country… Aleppo is a beacon of economy, urban development, and prosperity, and God willing, it will lead the way for the urban growth of Syria.”
Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani hosted a visit by his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Damascus on November 29. In a subsequent press conference, Rasmussen said that Danish aid to Syria was to be increased to $100 million per year and that several Danish companies sought to “find opportunities” to work in Syria.
Later that day, Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen visited the Tishreen district of Damascus alongside Minister of Emergency and Disaster Response Raed al-Saleh to tour the destruction and hear first-hand the needs for reconstruction.
Minister of Information Hamza al-Mustafa traveled to Beit Jinn in Rif Dimashq on November 29 alongside a group of Syrian, Arab and international journalists to visit the scene of an Israeli raid the previous day that left 13 Syrians dead.
Advisor to the President for Media Affairs, Ahmed Zaidan, traveled to Idlib on November 29 and met with a group of journalists alongside Governor Mohammed Abdulrahman and the Idlib governorate’s political and media directorates to discuss the 1yr anniversary of the Assad regime’s fall.
November 30:
President Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted a delegation of Gulf-based businessmen and investors, led by Abdullah bin Matar al-Munai, the Chairman of the UAE Auction Company on November 30.
Ministers of Finance (Mohammed Barniyeh), Communications and Information Technology (Abdulsalam Haykal), Economy and Industry (Nidal al-Shaar) and Tourism (Mazen al-Salhani), as well as Chairman of the Syrian Investment Authority, Talal al-Hilali and Chairman of Syria’s Civil Aviation Authority Omar al-Hosari joined a ceremony on November 30 to formally launch the Syrian British Business Council at the Royal Seramanis Hotel in Damascus.
Syria launched its first Syria International Textile Expo (NasTex Expo) on November 30, with events including Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Basil Abdel Hanan, Governor of Aleppo Azzam al-Gharib and others from the business community.
Delegation of Druze and Christian notables traveled to Beit Jinn in Rif Dimashq on November 30 to publicly mourn the death of 13 Syrians during an Israeli military raid on the village two days earlier.
Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Ways met with the National Committee for Transitional Justice in Damascus on November 30 to discuss continued coordination and the need to continue to take steps to “expedite procedures and strengthen the rule of law.”
December 1:
President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani hosted a visit by U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack in Damascus on December 1, during which they discussed a number of issues, including Israel’s recent military escalation and the killing of 13 Syrians in Beit Jinn southwest of Damascus three days earlier.
Minister of Information Hamza al-Mustafa presided over the public launch of the new Syrian Revolution newspaper in a ceremony in Damascus on December 1, attended by multiple ministers, including Raed al-Saleh (Emergency and Disaster Response), Mazhar al-Ways (Justice), Abdulsalam Haykal (Communications and Information Technology), Mazen al-Salhani (Culture), Nidal al-Shaar (Economy and Industry), and Mohammed Turko (Education).
Minister for Economy and Industry Nidal al-Shaar hosted the launch event for the Saudi Trade Mission in Syria at the Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus on December 1, attended by Deputy Saudi Ambassador Abdullah al-Harish and the Deputy Chairman of the Saudi Export Development Authority, Firas al-Hamidi.
Minister of Health Musab al-Ali hosted a meeting with UNICEF Representative Meritxell Relaño Arana in Damascus on December 1 to discuss opportunities for joint cooperation in healthcare.
More than 170 Syrian and international NGOs gathered in Damascus on December 1 to participate in the “Humanitarian Action and Recovery for Syria – Local Solutions for Sustainable Impact” conference at the Royal Semiramis Hotel.
Director for International Cooperation at the Foreign Ministry, Saad Baroud, co-launched a UNHCR workshop in Damascus on December 1 alongside UNHCR representative Gonzalo Vargas Llosa to discuss and work jointly on the issue of reintegrating returning refugees and internally displaced people.
A delegation from the Foreign Ministry, led by Director of Arab Affairs, Mohammed Taha al-Ahmed, traveled to Beit Jinn southwest of Damascus on December 1 to publicly mourn the 13 citizens of the village killed by Israel during a ground incursion early on November 28. The delegation also included a group of Arab and regional diplomatic officials, including Jordanian Ambassador to Syria Sufyan al-Qudah.
The Director General of Syria’s General Authority for Water Resources, Ahmed al-Kuwan, visited Daraa on December 1 to inspect a number of ongoing projects and existing water service infrastructure, including the Western Tafas Dam, the Harir Pumping Station and the Golan Dam.
A delegation from the Interior Ministry traveled to Bucharest, Romania to participate in a conference entitled “The Impact of Emerging Environmental Crimes on Security” organized by the al-Naif Arab University for Security Sciences.
Local notables in the town of Jdeidat Artouz in Rif Dimashq gathered late on December 1 to launch a fundraiser to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the town. They raised nearly $3 million.
December 2:
Chief of the General Staff Colonel Ali al-Naasan convened a meeting with Deputy Minister of Defense Colonel Mohammed Khayr Shuayb and a group of senior unit commanders in Damascus on December 2 to discuss ongoing processes of integration and enhancing coordination between MOD Divisions.
Governor of Deir ez Zour Ghassan al-Sayyed Ahmed, laid the foundation stone for the planned 1,000 MW power station to be constructed in his governorate on December 2, in a ceremony attended by Minister of Energy Mohammed al-Bashir. The plant will be constructed and funded by Qatar-based UCC Holding.
Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Ways hosted a meeting with Moroccan Charge d’Affairs Abdullah Babbad in Damascus on December 2.
Deputy Minister of Energy for Water Resources, Osama Abu Zeid, traveled to Marrakech, Morocco to participate in the 19th World Water Conference on December 2.
Deputy Head of Syria’s Central Authority for Financial Supervision, Sima al-Mansour, traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to participate in the 15th session of the General Assembly of the Arab Organization for Higher Financial Supervision and Accounting (Arabosai) on December 2.
Chairman of the Syrian Investment Authority, Talal al-Hilali, visited Idlib on December 2 and met with Governor Mohammed Abdulrahman to discuss ongoing and planned investment projects.
Appointments:
Political Developments:
MOI spokesman Nour al-Din Baba clarified in public comments on November 27 that passports will be issued to citizens for periods of 6 years, while those individuals still subject to “security measures” that require government follow-up work will be granted passports for 2.5yrs, subject to clearance that will then see a passport renewal for 6yrs.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on November 28 condemning the deadly Israeli military incursion into Beit Jinn southwest of Damascus that left 13 people dead, stating:
- The Syrian Arab Republic strongly condemns the criminal assault carried out by a patrol affiliated with the Israeli occupying forces through its incursion into the lands of the town of Beit Jan in the Damascus countryside and its brazen attack on the local residents and their property, which led to the outbreak of direct clashes as a result of the townspeople confronting the aggressor patrol and forcing it to withdraw from Syrian territory.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates affirms that the occupying forces’ resort, following the failure of their incursion, to targeting the town of Beit Jan with savage and deliberate shelling constitutes a fully-fledged war crime after perpetrating a horrific massacre that claimed the lives of more than ten civilians, including women and children, and caused a massive displacement movement as a result of the continued barbaric and deliberate shelling of the homes of the innocent.
- The Syrian Arab Republic holds the Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible for this dangerous aggression and the casualties and destruction resulting from it, considering that the continuation of these criminal assaults threatens security and stability in the region and comes within the context of a systematic policy to destabilize the situation and impose an aggressive reality by force.
- The government renews its call on the UN Security Council, the United Nations, and the League of Arab States to take urgent action to put an end to the policy of aggression and the repeated violations carried out by the Israeli occupation against the Syrian people, and to adopt deterrent measures that ensure respect for international law, the UN Charter, the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic, and the unity of its territories.
- Syria affirms that it will continue to exercise its legitimate right to defend its land and people by all means recognized by international law, and that these crimes will only increase its adherence to its rights and sovereignty and its rejection of all forms of occupation and aggression.
The Director for International Cooperation in the Foreign Ministry, Saad Baroud, announced on November 29 that Syria had regained its place in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and had voted earlier that day during a summit in London, UK.
In public remarks on November 30 to mark the one year anniversary of the liberation of Aleppo, Governor Azzam al-Gharib said:
“We were previously in the battle of liberation and now we’re soldiers in a battle of construction… Aleppo is the most affected governorate… with the start of the new year, a security camera system will begin to operate across the city… more than 900 industrial facilities have been re-activated since the liberation and we’re encouraging more businessmen and industrialists to return to Aleppo’s factories… we have restored 9 souks and plans are in place to restore 10 more in the coming year… we are identifying 5 sites suitable for new vendors and residents… the electricity situation is progressing and improving continuously and we’ve witnessed a significant increase in power supply. We have reactivated more than 30 power stations and transformer centers in the city and its countryside… we are working on a project to provide irrigation to 6,000-9,000 hectares of agricultural land.”
In public comments on December 1, the Director of Arab Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, Mohammed Taha al-Ahmed, said that “we will not concede a single inch of our lands… Israel must withdraw from the territories it occupied after the fall of the regime. We are working through diplomatic channels to stop Israeli aggressions and are committed to exercising restraint and communicating with partners to stop them.”
Economic Developments:
Jordan’s Department of General Statistics confirmed on November 25 that Jordanian exports to Syria had surged by 383% (from JD 36 million to JD 174 million) and Syrian exports to Jordan had increased by 71% (from JD 42 million to JD 72 million) between January-September 2025. It added that much of the trade had been in construction materials, food, agricultural products, and chemicals.
In a public TV interview on November 27, Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said that Syria was currently planning to explore for new gas reserves in the Mediterranean and that work was underway to establish a new oil refinery with a capacity of producing 150,000 barrels of refined oil per day. He added that once the SDF-held northeast of Syria was reintegrated into the state, Syria’s national oil production would reach 200,000 barrels per day. Bashir also said that plans were being developed to construct desalination plants in Syria to deal with droughts.
The Ministry of Agriculture set the price of wheat seeds for domestic farmers at $500 per ton for the 2025-2026 season on November 27.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced on November 30 that it had launched the “Smart Society” project aimed at empowering non-profit organizations working in the technology sector and supporting the digital transformation process in Syria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.
Infrastructure Developments:
Deputy Minister of Energy for Water Resources, Osama Abu Zeid, inaugurated a new wastewater treatment plant in Zabda in Rif Dimashq on November 27, following construction work supported by the UNDP.
The Aleppo Governor’s office announced on November 30 that a “strategic partnership” had been launched with UNDP remove and recycle rubble from several districts of Aleppo city. The project would seek to recycle more than 50,000 cubic meters of rubble and convert it into materials to construct public facilities, while a rubble recycling plant in al-Ramouseh would be significantly expanded. Moreover, a total of 22 new electrical transformers would be installed to support power services to 100,000 people, and 50km of new electricity lines would be laid to support eastern Aleppo.
Local authorities installed two replacement, new electrical transformers in rural Qadmous in Tartus on December 1 in order to restore electricity supply to several villages.
Education Developments:
Deputy Governor of Hama for Education Affairs Hassan al-Hassan led the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated al-Qadissiya School in Halfaya, Hama on December 1.
Health Developments:
Minister of Health Musab al-Ali and Minister of Finance Mohammed Barniyeh signed the “National Health Compact” on November 26, establishing a strategy for rebuilding Syria’s health system and aiming to achieve universal health coverage for all citizens by 2030.
Security Developments:
The MOI issued a statement on November 25 confirming that an ISIS cell had been neutralized – with 12 militants detained – in a targeted raid inside an IDP camp in rural Afrin on November 24. Suicide explosive belts, RPGs, a heavy machine gun and ammunition were seized.
Syria’s new representative to the OPCW, Mohammed Katoub, testified on November 26 at the 30th Annual OPCW Members’ State Conference that the OPCW had conducted 7 in-country visits in 2025, inspecting a total of 23 suspected chemical weapons sites and recovered more than 6,000 documents and 30 chemical samples.
Media reporting in Syria claimed Druze militias had released 14 Bedouin tribesman on November 27 who had been taken hostage near Qanawat during hostilities in July. The hostage release came after mediation by Okaidat tribal leader Sami al-Hifl and the government’s Suwayda security chief, Suleiman Abdul Baqi.
Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra stated publicly on November 27 that 434 HTS and opposition fighters were killed in the 12-day offensive that overthrew Assad’s regime in late-2024.
U.S. military personnel drove three armored personnel carriers across the Euphrates River from SDF areas into government areas on November 29, with some media claiming it was to test the viability of the bridge currently in place. The U.S. military vehicles returned soon thereafter, with some reporting claiming they had not coordinated in advance with transitional government authorities.
The MOI paraded new fleets of vehicles in Damascus on November 29, for use by the police, diplomatic security, traffic administration, tourism police, criminal investigations, road security and more.
U.S. Central Command issued a public statement on November 30 revealing that it had conducted at least 15 joint raids and airstrikes on ISIS-linked arms caches in the Rif Dimashq desert between November 24-27. The statement said the “combined operation” had destroyed “over 130 mortars and rockets, multiple assault rifles, machine guns, anti-tank mines, and materials for building improvised explosive devices.”
Humanitarian Developments:
Governor to Suwayda Mustafa Bakkour announced on November 25 that all damaged homes in the village of al-Soura al-Kubra had been repaired, as shown on a published map.
Governor to Suwayda Mustafa Bakkour announced on November 26 hat all damaged homes in the village of Umm Hreitein had been repaired, as shown on a published map.
Later that day, the SARC distributed winter shelter kits and other aid supplies to those in need in the villages of al-Sahwa, al-Musayfira and Khirba in Suwayda.
On November 26, Syria’s General Corporation for Electricity Transmission and Distribution delivered large quantities of electricity cables, metal towers, transformers, and wooden pylons in order to repair and replace damaged infrastructure in the village of al-Sayyida.
The SARC delivered winter shelter packages and other aid to displaced people originally from Suwayda now residing in Nawa, Kahil and al-Nahta in Daraa on November 27.
The SARC delivered winter shelter packages and other aid to displaced people originally from Suwayda now residing in al-Hirak, Khirbet al-Ghazaleh, al-Maliha al-Gharbiya, al- Mahja, al-Masmiyah, al-Shukraniya and Ibb in Daraa on November 29.
Governor to Suwayda Mustafa Bakkour announced on November 30 that all damaged homes in the village of al-Tayra had been repaired, as shown on a published map.
Governor to Suwayda Mustafa Bakkour announced on December 1 that all damaged homes in the village of Samih had been repaired, as shown on a published map.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributed aid to residents of the village of Beit Jinn in Rif Dimashq on December 1. The village had been subjected to a deadly Israeli raid early on November 28, leaving 13 people dead.
A convoy carrying 240 Iraqi families – constituting a total of 858 people – departed the al-Hol Camp for Iraq late on December 1.
Justice Developments:
On the order of Justice Minister Mazhar al-Ways, a legal office was formally established inside Hama Central Prison on November 26 to “supervise and organize legal procedures” within the prison and “provide legal consultations and guidance to prison staff” and monitor detention orders and processes.
A Spanish woman and her child were handed over to Spanish authorities by the SDF and AANES after several years of residing in the al-Hol camp on November 26.
International Developments:
Syria media confirmed on November 26 that representatives of all 15 UN Security Council member states would visit Damascus on December 4, with a meeting planned with President Ahmed al-Sharaa and other senior figures from the Syrian transitional government.
A “senior U.S. official” was quoted by Israel’s Channel 12 on December 1 as stating that “Syria does not want problems with Israel, but Netanyahu sees alarming indicators everywhere… we have asked Netanyahu to stop so that Syria’s new government does not turn into an enemy of Israel… Israel’s behavior in Syria harms our efforts to push both sides into a security agreement.”
Later that day, in a post on Truth Social on December 1, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed praise and support for Syria’s transitional government and appeared to subtly criticize recent Israeli escalation in Syria:
The United States is very satisfied with the results displayed, through hard work and determination, in the Country of Syria. We are doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended, which is substantial, in order to build a true and prosperous Country. One of the things that has helped them greatly was my termination of very strong and biting sanctions – I believe this was truly appreciated by Syria, its Leadership, and its People! It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State. The new President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together. This is a historic opportunity, and adds to the SUCCESS, already attained, for PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!
CONFLICT & SECURITY:
Israel:
Israeli military forces launched a ground incursion into an area outside the town of Khan Arnabeh in Quneitra on November 26.
Later that day, two other incursions were launched -- into the village of al-Samdaniya al-Sharqiya in central Quneitra and into the village of Mumtana.
That night, another incursion was launched into an area between the villages of al-Qahtaniya and Umm al-Azam, while Israeli forces also detonated a cache of ammunition near the al-Mantara Dam.
Israeli military forces launched at least three artillery shells into the Tel Ahmar al-Sharqi area on November 27, but no casualties were confirmed.
Israeli military forces launched several ground incursions into Quneitra on November 27 -- one into the Tel al-Hamr area eastern Quneitra; one into the village of Umm al-Luqas; and one into the village of al-Isha.
A total of 13 people – including 3 women and 2 children – were killed and 24 others were injured during an Israeli incursion into the village of Beit Jinn southwest of Damascus in the early hours of November 28. The incursion was launched in order to capture 3 men, but local men resisted, triggering clashes in which artillery fire, armed drones and an Israeli helicopter gunship got involved. Six Israeli soldiers were also injured.
Israeli military forces launched a ground incursion into the village of al-Hamadiya in Quneitra on November 28, during which a group of civilians were fired upon by Israeli forces, but no casualties confirmed.
Later that day, another incursion was launched into the village of Maariya in Daraa’s Yarmouk Basin, during which a child was fired upon in a field, but he was not injured.
Israeli military forces launched two ground incursions into Quneitra on November 29 – one into Bir Ajam in central Quneitra and another into al-Ruwayhina.
Later that day, another incursion was launched that passed through al-Hader and headed towards Beit Jinn.
Israeli military forces launched a ground incursion into the village of al-Hamadiya in Quneitra on November 30.
On December 1, Israeli military forces released one of the 3 Syrian men – identified as Ibrahim Abdul al-Saadi – detained and taken away during a deadly raid in Beit Jinn in Rif Dimashq on November 28.
Israeli military forces launched a ground incursion into the Tel al-Qubays area north of Ayn al-Ziwan in southern Quneitra on December 1. At one point during the raid, Israeli forces opened fire into the air in order to disperse potential protesters.
Later that day, additional incursions were launched into Quneitra – one into an area between the villages of Jubata al-Khashab and Ayn al-Bayda; one into Sayda al-Hanout; one into the village of Umm Batna; and another into the Tel al-Humayriyah in the north.
Israeli military forces launched a ground incursion into the village of al-Usha in southern Quneitra in the early hours of December 2, raiding two residential. buildings before withdrawing.
Later that day, additional incursions were launched into an area between Khan Arnabeh and al-Samdaniya al-Sharqiya, during which one residential building was demolished; and into the Tel Kroum area.
ISIS:
A U.S. special forces airborne raid targeted an ISIS militant cell in the al-Zalzala district of al-Marrat in eastern Deir ez Zour in the early hours of November 26. Two ISIS operatives were detained.
Local media reporting subsequently claimed both men – one of them identified as Hatim Abu al-Saoud – were anti-ISIS activists who had left the SDF several years previously and been known to voice support for the transitional government.
One former Assad regime militiaman was shot dead by ISIS militants in a targeted attack in Mazraa in western rural Homs on November 27.
Two government soldiers were shot dead by suspected ISIS militants in the countryside outside al-Bab, Aleppo on November 27.
A former Assad regime activist and doctor was shot dead by ISIS militants in Hama city late on November 27.
One government soldier was killed and another was injured in an attack by ISIS militants in Saraqeb in eastern Idlib late on November 28.
ISIS militants ambushed an SDF vehicle on patrol in the village of al-Muhamadiya on November 30, but no casualties were confirmed.
ISIS militants ambushed and heavily damaged at least two oil tankers within a larger convoy that had just left the al-Izbah field in northern Deir ez Zour on November 30. No casualties were confirmed.
Two ISIS militants were killed and 9 others were detained by MOI forces in two coordinated raids in Idlib – one in al-Dana and another in Idlib’s western outskirts – on December 1. Explosive suicide belts, weapons and ammunition were seized at both locations. MOI press releases later said some members of the cells had been involved in a killing in Marat Misrin.
ISIS militants ambushed an SDF vehicle driving between the villages of Hazima and Tel al-Saman north of Raqqa city on December 1, but no casualties were confirmed.
Idlib:
Five government soldiers were killed and at least 9 others were injured when a large weapons store unexpectedly exploded outside Kafr Takharim in northern Idlib on November 26. Some reporting suggested a munition had detonated inside a workshop, triggering a much larger secondary explosion.
Three children were injured when an unexploded munition inside firewood detonated in rural Idlib on November 26.
One child was killed and two others were injured after triggering an unexploded cluster munition in the village of Tel Minas on December 1.
Aleppo:
A former leading Assad regime NDF commander – identified as Sami Abdulghani Obray -was detained by Public Security forces in a targeted raid in Aleppo on November 30. Obray had played a role in the national formation of the NDF in 2012 and had played a leadership role since 2017. Upon Assad’s fall, he had fled to Lebanon but recently returned to Syria.
Several men accused of promoting the transitional government were detained by SDF forces in a series of raids in Maskaneh on November 30.
Latakia:
Several people – both protesters and MOI security forces – were injured in violence that broke out during pro-federalism protests in Latakia city on November 25. Suspected anti-government insurgents opened fire on the city’s outskirts at one brief point during the day, but no serious casualties were confirmed.
Three organized crime operatives involved in a string of recent kidnappings – some of which ended in executions – were detained by MOI forces in a targeted raid in Jableh on November 27.
MOI forces detained five senior Assad regime officers – identified as Brigadier General Adnan Ali Yusuf, Brigadier General Sami Muhammad Saleh, Brigadier General Ghassan Ali Darwish, Major Ghadir Imad Jaza’a, and Major Tariq Ali Baniyat – in a series of coordinated raids in Latakia on December 1. The MOI said some had previously worked at the Tishreen Military Hospital in Damascus, and all were accused of war crimes.
Tartus:
A former Assad regime State Security officer – identified as Ali Kasser Raslan – was detained by Public Security forces in a targeted raid in Tartus on November 25.
Hama:
Two men were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in a targeted attack in rural southwestern Hama late on November 26.
Three organized crime operatives involved in a series of kidnappings while impersonating government security forces were detained in a targeted raid by MOI personnel in northwestern rural Hama on November 27.
Homs:
MOI forces deployed heavily into Homs city late on November 25 as counter-protesters mobilized to challenge Alawite-majority demonstrations calling for federalism in Syria. No serious casualties were confirmed.
Two gunmen were killed after launched a brief attack on a government MOI checkpoint near al-Qusayr late on November 28, triggering clashes. Local media claimed the incident was linked to an attempt to smuggle weapons towards Lebanon.
One man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Wadi al-Dhahab district of Homs city late on November 28.
One man from the minority Murshidi sect was shot dead by unidentified gunmen near the village of Tasnin in northern rural Homs late on November 30.
Raqqa:
Five men were detained by SDF forces in a series of targeted raids in the village of al-Sahl south of Raqqa on November 29, following their return from being refugees in Lebanon.
One man, identified as Mohammed al-Jumaa, was detained by SDF forces during a raid on his home in the village of al-Ahous east of Raqqa on November 30.
His dead body, displaying signs of torture, was left outside his family home on December 2.
Hasakeh:
Three suspected drug smugglers were detained by SDF forces in a targeted raid in Hasakeh city late on November 25.
Deir ez Zour:
A suspected Iranian proxy militiaman was detained by government MOI forces in a targeted raid in al-Bukamal on November 25.
One civilian man, identified as Laurenz Malik al-Rajab, was shot dead in crossfire during a brief clash between government and SDF forces across the Euphrates River near Hasrat on November 27.
A former Assad regime militiaman with ties to Iran, identified as Mohammed Tawfiq al-Nouri, was shot and severely injured in an attack by unidentified gunmen in Deir ez Zour city on November 30.
At least 13 men were detained by SDF forces in a series of raids in the village of al-Hisan in western rural Deir ez Zour on December 1 – many after returning personally from visits to Damascus, or whose relatives had done so.
Two government soldiers were killed after their vehicle triggered an unexploded landmine in the Badia al-Bawil desert region east of Deir ez Zour on December 1.
Rif Dimashq:
MOI counter-narcotics forces seized 294,000 captagon pills, 16kg of hashish and 4 large cylinders of helium gas (used for the launch of heavy lift balloons) during a targeted raid in the desert of southern Rif Dimashq on November 27.
In an intelligence-led operation coordinated with counterparts in Iraq, Syrian MOI counternarcotics forces detained two drugs smugglers and seized 57kg of hashish in their possession in an undisclosed location in the Rif Dimashq desert on November 30.
Interior Ministry counternarcotics forces seized 324kg of cannabis and 200,000 captagon pills in an intelligence-led raid on a compound in al-Zabadani on December 1.
Daraa:
One man was shot and injured in a targeted attack by unidentified gunmen in al-Jiza on November 27.
Unidentified gunmen threw a grenade outside the home of a local doctor, Mazen Mubarak, in Jassem on November 27, but no casualties were caused.
One child was killed after triggering an unexploded munition in the village of Kafr Nasij in northern Daraa on November 28.
Two MOI public security operatives were kidnapped and then executed by ISIS militants near Nawa on November 28.
Unidentified gunmen ambushed an MOI security force member driving near Dael on December 1, but he escaped unharmed.
Three men suspected of involvement in the killing of two MOI security operatives near Nawa on November 28 were detained by government forces in a raid in Nawa on December 1. Media reporting said their arrests had been led by the discovery that the attack was motivated by a financial dispute.
One man, identified as Yousef al-Imar, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his home in Nimr on November 30.
Three civilians were injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their home in Dael late on December 1.
Suwayda:
One government MOI operative was killed in an attack by Druze militiamen on a checkpoint in rural western Suwayda on November 25.
Later that day, one Druze militiaman was reportedly killed in a suspected government suicide drone strike north of Suwayda city on November 25.
Jordanian armed forces intercepted a drone carrying narcotics that had been launched from Suwayda’s southern desert late on November 25.
Brief clashes erupted between government MOI forces and Druze militias along the Kanaker frontline in western Suwayda on November 28.
Brief clashes erupted between Druze militiamen and government MOI security forces along the al-Mansoura frontline west of Suwayda early on November 29.
At least 10 Druze figures – including Raed al-Mutni, Asim Abu Fakhr and relatives of Laith al-Balous – were detained by Druze ‘National Guard’ militiamen in a series of raids on November 29, after being accused of communicating with the transitional government in Damascus. Al-Mutni had his moustache forcibly shaved off on camera. Some media loyal to Hikmat al-Hijri claimed to have foiled a “coup.”
On December 2, the dead body of Raed al-Mutni was dumped outside the Suwayda National Hospital, showing signs of significant torture.
Jordanian armed forces intercepted several heavy-lift balloons carrying catpagon pills that had been launched from Suwayda’s southern desert late on November 29.
Druze militiamen associated with the ‘National Guard’ umbrella of militias launched a second arrest campaign in Suwayda on December 2, with the brother of Raed al-Mutni (who had been detained on November 29 and whose dead body had been dumped outside Suwayda National Hospital on December 2) confirmed detained.
Quneitra:
Thirteen Jewish Israeli settlers illegally crossed into Syria near Bir Ajam in Quneitra on November 27 but were detained soon after by Israeli military forces.